Complaints of shortmeasuring in makeshift bazaar

By Jawwad Rizvi
February 26, 2018

LAHORE: The Price Control Committee chairman has said the government has started working to control the prices of essential items in the holy month of Ramazan and is evolving a mechanism for it.

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In a ‘surprise’ visit to Wahdat Colony Bazaar, the chairman took notice of overcharging. But overcharging continued besides unavailability of majority of perishable items even in his presence. A number of complaints of short measuring were registered there while three stalls were canceled after complaints of the buyers. However, no mechanism was developed to check the weight and weighing machines. The under-weighing by the vendors is an issue that affects the buyers. The government is not bothering to control the artificial price hike in the open markets and weekly makeshift markets of the cities. In Sunday bazaars, this week again brinjal, capsicum, Radish pods (mongray), cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourd, besides majority of seasonal fruits were not sold in the makeshift markets on account of wrong pricing issue.

The official price of potato was reduced by Rs 2 per kg and fixed Rs14 to Rs15 per kg for the makeshift markets and Rs15 to Rs16 per kg for the open market. However, in the open market, it was sold at Rs25 per kg.

The price of onion was further reduced by Rs 2 per kg and fixed at Rs28 to Rs30 per kg, but mixed grade onion was sold at Rs30 per kg. The price of tomato was cut by Re 1 per kg and fixed at Rs27 to Rs29 per kg, but it was sold at Rs30 per kg.

Garlic, China, rate was fixed at Rs138 to Rs143 per kg, and garlic, local, at Rs107 to Rs110 per kg, but both were sold at Rs130 to Rs160 per kg. Ginger, Chinese, rate was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs 131 to Rs135 per kg, and ginger, Thai, at Rs107 to Rs110 per kg, and it was sold at Rs140 per kg.

Cucumber, local, rate was fixed at Rs28 to Rs30 per kg, but sold at Rs40 per kg. Bitter gourd rate was reduced by Rs5 per kg and fixed at Rs83 to Rs85 per kg, but not sold there. Spinach rate was fixed at Rs13 to Rs14 per kg, but sold at Rs20 to Rs25 per kg as the market committee officials issued Rs 25 per kg spinach, local, rate to vendors instead of its official price list rate of Rs 14 per kg.

Lemon, Chinese, rate was increased by Rs 3 per kg and fixed at Rs53 to Rs55 per kg, but sold at Rs60 to per kg.

Zucchini, farm, rate was fixed at Rs28 to Rs33 per kg, zucchini, long, at Rs14 to Rs15 per kg, sold at Rs 35 and Rs 20 per kg, respectively.

Pumpkin rate was reduced by Rs 2 per kg and fixed at Rs 58 to Rs60 per kg, but sold at Rs80 per kg. Green chilli rate was increased by Rs 4 per kg and fixed at Rs101 to Rs 104 per kg, but sold at Rs120 to Rs140 per kg.

Coriander rate was fixed at Rs30 per kg, but sold at Rs120 per kg. Beans rate was not issued while it was sold at Rs200 per kg. Carrot price was stable at Rs19 to Rs20 per kg. Fenugreek (Methi) rate was stable at Rs14 to Rs15 per kg, but sold at Rs25 to Rs30 per kg.

Turnip rate was reduced by Rs 5 per kg and fixed at Rs14 to Rs15 per kg, but sold at Rs20 to Rs30 per kg. Radish rate was fixed at Rs7 to Rs8 kg, but sold at Rs20 per kg.

Pea rate was reduced by Rs 5 per kg and fixed at Rs19 to Rs20 per kg. Green gram rate was fixed at Rs53 to Rs55 per kg, but sold at Rs160 per kg. Mustard leave rate was fixed at Rs Rs22 to Rs23 per kg, but sold at Rs25 to Rs30 per kg.

The prices of different varieties of apples were fixed at Rs68 to Rs130 per kg, but sold at Rs60 to Rs160 per kg. Banana, A-quality, rate was stable at Rs53 to Rs55 per dozen, and B-quality at Rs26 to Rs28 per dozen but mixed quality banana was sold at Rs 60 per dozen. Guava rate was fixed at Rs46 to Rs48 per kg, but sold at Rs70 per kg. Musammi rate was increased by Rs10 per dozen and fixed at Rs117 to Rs120 per dozen, but A-grade at Rs 160 per dozen and B-grade at Rs120 per dozen.

Grape fruit rate was fixed at Rs21 to Rs22 per piece while A-grade grape fruit was sold at Rs25 to Rs30 per piece and B-quality at Rs20 per piece.

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